Telegraph-key



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. DOGGETT. TELEGRAPH KEY.

No. 445,442. Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

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JOHN DOGGETT, OF PLAIN CITY, OHIO.

TELEGRAPH KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 445,442, dated January 27, 1891.

Application filed July 28, 1890. Serial No. 360,219. (No model.)

To (0% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DOGGETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plain City, in the county of Madison and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Telegraph-Key, of which the following is a speci- 'iication.

This invention has relation to improvements in telegraph-keys, and is especially intended as an improvement upon United States Patout No. 384,350, granted me June 12,1888,for combined telegraph key and sounder.-

The objects of the present invention are to provide for a simple and convenient means for converting the key from a mechanicallyoperated to an eleetrically-operated key and sounder, and when mechanically operated to provide means for adapting either end of the key-lever for operation as an ordinary telegraph-key; to provide means for preventing a loud sound by the set-screw of the long arm of the key coming in contact with the base when the short or long end of key-lever is used; to provide additional insulated posts for relay and main-line attachments and means for cutting off the sounder from relay and main line, whereby the key and sounder will work mechanically or with the use of local battery and without interfering with the main line; to provide the shortest arm of keylever with means for assisting in the adj ustment of the stroke of the same when used mechanically; to provide a means for adjusting the tension of the spring between the sounder and long arm of key-lever; to improve the means for securing the bearingears of the key-lever to the base; to provide means for cutting off the relay and main-linc attachments for main-line business and local circuit for learners; to provide means for raising the short end of key-lever when the instrument is operated by electricity, made necessary by the fact that when so operated said key-lever is disconnected or d-etached from the connecting-rods, and therefore has no spring, and, furthermore, in other details of construction hereinafter appearing.

iVith the above objects in view the invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

the key-lever and the switch.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of an instrument constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, portions being shown in side elevation. Fig. i is a transverse vertical section. Fig. 5 is a detail in bottom plan of a portion of Fig. 6 is a diagram matic view of the instrument,illustrating thecircuits, battery, and relay.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the drawings.

1 designates the base, which at its center has secured thereupon a standard 2, rising vertically from the base and extending parallel to the base and from the standard to form a bar The bar 3 is provided with a longitudinal slot which forms upon the upper side of said bar a resonant arm 4, and said bar is reduced at its forward end and has threaded upwardly through the same a percussion set-screw 5. The rear end of the bar projects a slight distance beyond the opposite end of the standard, is reduced and has mounted thereon a supplemental superimposed standard 6, the base of which is provided with a threaded shank 7, passing through the bar and clamped in position by means of a set-nut 8. The upper portion of the bar overhangs and extends parallel with the resonant arm 4 and is provided with percussion set-screws 9 and 10, located at differentpoints along the supplemental standard and depending from the same. Near its outer end the bar 3 is transversely recessed, as at 11, upon its upper side, and seated in the same is a lei-shaped transvcrselydisposed bearing-yoke 12, secured to the bar by means of a screw 13 passing through the yoke and into the bar. The terminals of the yoke are provided with percussion bearing-screws 14, inwardly disposed, and receive the conical trunnions 15 of the sounding-arm 16, to the upper side of which is secured the armature 17, adapted to have intermittent contact with the helices 18. Under thesupplemental standard the arm 16 is provided with a percussion-screw 19. By adjusting either the screws 9 or 10 so as to have contact with the sounding-arm the pitch of said sounding-arm will be altered, as will be apparent. The

standard 2 is provided with a recess or open ing 20, and in rear of the standard there secured upon the base a transverse rib 21, between which and the standard is located a key-lever-bearing yoke 22, secured in position by means of a couple of screws 23 passed upwardly through the base and into the yoke.

24 designates the key-lever, which at one side of its center is provided with laterallydisposed conical trunnions 25, having adjustable hearings in percussion-screws 26 passed though the terminals of the yoke 22. Bylocating the trunnions 25 at one side of the center of the key-lever a short arm 26 and a long arm 27 are formed, each of said arms extending out a suitable distance over the base and provided with the usual buttons 28. The shorter arm 26 is provided with a percussion-screw 29, terminating in a contact-point 30, adapted for contact with a contact-point 31, secured to the base under the arm, and interposed between the base and the under edge of the arm is a coiled spring 32, having a tendency to eleva-te the arm, said spring being removable. Recesses 33 are formed at each side of the fulcrum and in the under edge of the sounding-arm 16, and through the same are passed bearing-pins 34. Mounted pivotally upon the inner bearing-pin 34 is the upperend of a de-- pending connecting-rod 35, the lower end of which passes loosely through and depends below a vertical opening 36, formed in the long- -est arm 27 of the key-lever, and flush with the bottom edge of said arm is provided with a transverse kerf or recess 37, said rod passing through a suitable opening formed in the bar 3 and adapted. for reciprocation in said opening. Pivotally connected at its upper end to the outer bearing-pin 34 is a second rod 38, located at the opposite side of the fulcrum 15 of the sounding-arm, at which the rod 35 is located, and said rod 38, after depending through a suitable vertical opening formed in the bar 3, extends down through an opening 39, formed in the longest; arm 27 of the key-lever, and flush with the lower edge of the same when the lever is raised is provided with a transverse kert or recess 40.

Above the key-lever the rod 39 is threaded,

and mounted thereon is a set-nut 41, between which and the under side of the bar 3 is located a light coiled spring 42, the tensile power of which may be increased or diminished by an adjustment of the set-nut 41, which, like all other nuts employed herein, is suitably milled.

Pivoted, as at 43, to the under side of the longer arm 27 of the key-lever, and between the lower ends of the two rods 35 and 36, is a switch-lever 44, having at its outer end a button 45 or knob, and at its inner end and opposite sides thereof provided with wedgeshaped' flanges or shoulders 46. By swinging the switch-lever to a central position, or at a right angle to the arm 27, the flanges 46 will be free from the kerfs 37 and 40 of the rods 35 and 38, respectively, so that the key will be adapted for use in connection with the main-linecircuit or for electrical use. By throwing the switch-lever so that one of the flanges 46 will take into the kerf 40 of the rod 41 the shorter arm 26 of the key-lever will be adapted to work mechanically and the opposite arm not adapted for work. Now by throwing. the lever in the opposite direction, so that the kert 37 is engaged, the longest arm 27 is adapted to work mechanically and the shortest arm 26 not to work.

Near the outer end of the arm 27 there is located a percussion-screw 47, the lower end of which depends through the arm and has contact with a rubber butter 48, secured to the base under the arm. By means of this buffer and screw 47 the loud sound caused by the set-screw coming in contact with the base when the short or long arms of the keylever are operated is avoided.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated my key in connection with my improved relay designed for use in connection therewith. The key and sounder may be used independently, and when so used the short lever 61 is in the position having contact with the post 59, the main circuit coming in by the wire 56, through the relay-coils by wire 65* to the lever 61, and to contact-point under key through wire 70, from which it passes through wire 66 to the binding-post 5S and by wire 57 to main line. The local circuit, however, will be from the local battery by the wire 55 to the relay binding-post 52, from thence by the removable wire 72 to the binding-post 53, by wire 64 to binding-post 65 of key-base, through metal key-base to contact-pointsof key, (when closed,) by Wire 69 to sounder-coils 18, thence by wire 67 to post 63, and by wire 62 back to battery, so that the key will operate the sounder. When it is desired to operate the main line by the key, the lever 61 is swung into contact with the post 60, when the current will enter by the wire 56, pass through the relay-coils, attracting the relayarmature, closing its contact-points to close the local circuit, leaving the relay by the wire 65*, passing through the lever 61 into keybase by the stud 60, and when key is closed will return to main line by the wires 66 and 57. The lever 61 and removable short wire 72 are merely used to interfere, so as to, prevent the loeal battery from carrying the mainline current from the relay to the sounder. The main-line current being the stronger, the conduction can only be accomplished through the power of the local battery. The contactpoint under the key-lever is insulated for main-lipe use and also for local use. This IOC permits one cut-out lever to answer the pur pose of two, the portable or removable wire 72 serving the purpose of a second lever, said portable wire 72 being entirely removed from relay when the line is used with the sounder and key and put on or attached to the two local posts of the relay when a cut-out is required. It is evident that by operating the switch-lever '61 the sounder may he disconnected from the main line and used in echanically or simply connected with the local circuit, and yet not interfere with the business of the main line.

From the above construction it will be apparent that I accomplish. the objects 'of the invention in a cheap, simple, and efficient manner, and that I have succeeded in prod ucing an exceedingly complete, compact, and convenient instrument capable of all the changes herein mentioned, adapting it for regular business or to be used electrically or mechanically for the purpose of teaching beginners, the conversion of the instrument being accomplished by convenient means and always ready at hand for instant use.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a telegraph-key, the combination, with a sounding-arm, a support for the same, and a pivoted key-lever having arms extending at each side of its fulcrum, of pivoted rods depending from each side of the pivot of the sounding-arm and terminating below one of the arms of the key-lever and a pivoted switch located between said arms and adapted to engage and rigidly connect either one of said rods with the key-lever, substantially as specified.

2. In atelegraph-key, the combination, with a pivoted sounding-arm, a support for the same, and a pivoted key-lever extended at each side of its pivot to form operating-arms and provided in one of said arms with apair of openings, of a pair of pivoted rods, one located at each side of the pivot of and depending from the sounding-arm and each passing through an opening in thekey-lever, and a switch-lever pivoted to the under side of the key-lever between the lower ends of the rods and provided at each side of its pivoted end with a shouldered flange adapted to engage kerfs formed in the lower ends of the rods, and thereby lock either of said rods rigidly with said key-lever, substantially as specified.

3. In a telegraph-key, the combination, with a pivoted sounding-arm, a support for the same, and a pivoted key-lever arranged under 9 the arm, of a pair of rods pivoted at their upper ends to and at each side of the fulcrum of the sounding-arm and having their lower ends depending through openings formed in the key-lever, one of said rods being threaded, a set-nut threaded on, the rod above the keylever, and a coiled spring encircling the rod and interposed between the said nut and the support for the sounding-arm, and means for locking eitherof said arms rigid with the keylever, substantially as specified.

4. The relay having the posts 52 and 53, in combination with the battery 54, the wire 55, leading from the battery to the post 52, the key-connections between the same and the key and post 53 and armature and between the key and relay-coils, and the portable wire 72, connecting the posts 52 and 53, substantially as specified.

5. Atelegraph-key the base of which is pro vided with the binding-posts 58 63 65 and the lever 61. and the insulated and non-insulated posts 59 and 60, respectively, in combination with a relay and battery, said relay having the posts to 53, inclusive, the wire 55, leading from the battery to the post 52 of the relay, the wire 62, leading from the battery to the post 63 of the key, the wire 64, leading from the post 53 to the post and forming, in connection with the wires 55 and 62, a local circuit, the wire 56 of the main line connected to the post 50 of the relay, and the 1nain-line Wire 57, connected to the post 58 of the key and to the contact-point, the wire 67, leading from the post 63 t0 sounder-coils,the wire 69, leading from coils to contact-point under key, the wire 70, leading from post 69 to contact-point under key, the wire (56, leading from contact-point of key to post 58, and the removable Wire 72, connecting the posts 52 and 53, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aftixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN DOGGET".

\Vitnesses:

J. H. SIGGERS, R. W. DAYTON. 

